SUPER BOWL LII: This bet is for the birds

Wednesday

Feb 14, 2018 at 10:07 AMFeb 14, 2018 at 10:30 AM

Zoo New England 'pays' up on Super Bowl wager with Philadelphia

When the New England Patriots lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII, local zoos in New England also lost their wager with Philadelphia-area zoos. The bet required the losing zoos’ directors to clean an animal exhibit while wearing the winning team’s jersey and also donate $1,000 each to the winning zoos’ conservation work or youth-focused program of choice.

Zoo New England partnered with the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, R.I. and Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, Conn. to challenge the Philadelphia Zoo, Elmwood Park Zoo, and Lehigh Valley Zoo to the friendly bet.

To make good, Zoo New England’s president and CEO, John Linehan recently donned a Philadelphia Eagles hat and Super Bowl Champions shirt while cleaning out the bald eagle exhibit at Stone Zoo in Stoneham.

Linehan was a good sport about fulfilling the wager.

“Any time we have the opportunity to team up with fellow Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA)-accredited partners to have some fun and spread the word about the incredible conservation work taking place each day at our zoos is a win for everyone,” he said.

Zoo New England also donated $1,000 to Philadelphia Zoo’s ZooCREW (Zoo Champions for Restoring Endangered Wildlife)– an immersive program in which teens become conservation ambassadors, working with animals and learning how to take action to protect animals all around the world.